Noted veteran playback singer S P Balasubramanyam is set to receive Centenary award for his contributions to India cinema for over 50 years.

The decision for the award was announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday ahead of the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will begin in Goa from November 20.

Speaking at IFFI press conference, Naidu complimented the singer for his achievements.

“Acclaimed and versatile singer S P Balasubramanyam will be conferred with the centenary award for the Indian personality of the year 2016 for his contribution to Indian cinema. He holds The Guinness World record for singing and recording more than 40,000 songs and has won the National Award six times. He was hounoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2011 by the government of India. Balasubramnyam has completed five decades in the film industry,” Naidu said.

From Bollywood to Tollywood to Tamil and Kannada, the singer has left his footprints in multiple film industries with his melodious hits working along with music directors like Ilayraja. The playback singer not only sang record-holding songs in as many as four different languages, but also acted in many movies in his film career.

He also won many Filmfare awards and state accolades including AP government’s Nandi Awards, which he bagged 25 times till date.

Naidu, who was also accompanied by I&B MoS Rayavardhan Rathore and Goa deputy chief minster, said the government is also wishing to start initiatives to aid film fraternity to help them bring Indian cinema on other global platforms.

“The ministry will provide assistance to films which are selected in any competition section of an International Film Festival of repute or India’s official nomination for Academy Awards under foreign film category for promotional activities. Financial assistance will be provided to filmmakers for promotions of their films at these International Film Festivals across the world,” the minister added.